How an AI Video Created the Jessica Radcliffe Orca Death Myth

A viral video circulating on social media has falsely claimed to show orca trainer Jessica Radcliffe being killed by a killer whale during a live performance. The dramatic clip, which appeared to depict a violent attack in front of an audience, sparked fear and outrage online.

However, an investigation by Misbar, a fact-checking platform, has confirmed that the story is entirely fabricated. The video in question was generated using artificial intelligence, not filmed during a real-life event.

The footage, which first spread widely on TikTok, carried a watermark linked to AI video-generation tools, including the VEO platform. On closer inspection, clear signs of AI creation were visible: the trainer’s facial features lacked realistic symmetry, the orca appeared cartoonish with unnaturally smooth textures, and audience members in the background showed distorted expressions—all hallmarks of AI-generated imagery.

There are no official reports, safety records, or credible news coverage of any trainer named Jessica Radcliffe or of such an attack occurring. The fabricated narrative appears to exploit public emotional reactions to animal attack stories, especially involving orcas.

While this specific incident is fictional, orca-related trainer fatalities have occurred in the past. The most notable was in February 2010, when U.S. trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by the orca Tilikum at SeaWorld Orlando, an event that sparked worldwide debate about keeping orcas in captivity and was featured in the documentary Blackfish. Other incidents include the 2009 death of Spanish trainer Alexis Martínez in Tenerife and a 1991 fatality in Canada’s SeaLand of the Pacific.

Orcas, the largest members of the dolphin family, are highly intelligent and social marine mammals that roam vast ocean territories. In captivity, they live in confined tanks and are trained through positive reinforcement to perform behaviors for public shows. However, confinement and separation from family pods can cause stress, sometimes leading to aggression.